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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
06:59
Isolation of Primary Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Colon Tissue
Published on: October 12, 2013
Endothelin-1 stimulates human colonic myofibroblast contraction and migration
L E Kernochan1, B N Tran, P Tangkijvanich
1Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Gut
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Endothelin-1 triggers intestinal myofibroblast contraction and migration, crucial for gut wound repair. This study clarifies the role of these cells in intestinal healing and response to injury.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Cell Biology
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Subepithelial myofibroblasts are crucial for intestinal wound healing.
- Their contractile and migratory functions, and signals regulating proliferation, were previously uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endothelin-1 in modulating intestinal myofibroblast contraction, migration, and proliferation.
- To explore the underlying signal transduction pathways.
Main Methods:
- Assessed contraction, migration, proliferation, cytosolic calcium, and myosin phosphorylation in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts.
- Utilized endothelin receptor agonists and antagonists.
Main Results:
- Endothelin-1 induced robust contraction and migration, linked to increased cytosolic calcium and myosin phosphorylation.
- Rho-associated kinase inhibition reduced endothelin-1-stimulated responses.
- Endothelin A and B receptors mediated contraction; Endothelin B receptors mediated migration.
- Proliferation was induced by platelet-derived growth factor and serum, not endothelin-1.
Conclusions:
- Endothelin-1 stimulates colonic subepithelial myofibroblast contraction and migration through endothelin receptor-mediated myosin phosphorylation.
- Subepithelial myofibroblasts play a significant role in gut injury response and intestinal wound repair.
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